The man, 54, was talking with his therapist about his fears about crime in Flint when he announced he had an idea on how to stay safe.

He allegedly pulled out a .380-caliber pistol but reassured the therapist that the gun’s safety was on.

He then pulled the trigger to prove it — firing a bullet.

No one was hit and the man apologized and left before police arrived at the Saginaw Road office.

Grand Blanc and Flint police arrested the man about 90 minutes later at his home.

He was jailed pending charges of carrying a concealed weapon and reckless discharge of a firearm, said Grand Blanc Lt. Steve Hill.

One party too many

A Goodrich woman got more than she wanted after she summoned police to unlock her car in Grand Blanc Township.

Police showed up to help but started asking questions when they noticed she smelled of alcohol.

The 18-year-old told cops she had "had a few beers" the night before but explained it was her last chance to party since she was entering rehab in a few days.

Police didn’t unlock the car, but did give the woman a ticket for minor in possession of alcohol.

Tall tales

A Burton man suspected of growing his own marijuana told cops it was only for personal use.

But that defense might be a stretch.

A search of the guy’s backyard turned up 21 plants that police said were “as tall as him.”

And he’s 6-foot-4.

Despite the man’s green thumb, Leyton said the personal use defense won’t fly under the state’s new medical marijuana law.

“He’s nine plants over the limit,” said Leyton.

The man now faces seven years in prison on a charge of manufacturing marijuana.

On a side note, the man had just pleaded guilty to cocaine possession a month earlier — clearly missing the point that it might be time to give up drugs.

Along a similar vein, a fight in Deerfield Township led to some uncomfortable moments for the two participants.

After trying his best to evade police questions, the first participant told cops he had taken a beating for ripping off another man.

Troopers from the Lapeer post paid a visit to the second fighter who didn’t want to press charges — probably because what was ripped off were two of the 6-foot-tall marijuana plants he had been growing on his dad’s property.

The plants were seized and the case is now in the hands of the Thumb Narcotics Unit.

Animal lover

The Family Literacy Center in Lapeer recently got a call from an upset woman worried that the center was abusing animals.

The reason? The center’s upcoming charity camel race.

Horrified at the thought of poor camels being herded around a race track, the woman wanted to know why the literacy center would do such a thing.

The answer is the camels are made out of wood.

“We don’t have a pasture full of camels,” said the center’s Mary Wiese.

If you don’t mind forcing wooden camels to work for a good cause, the race is Oct. 16 and tickets are two for $25.